However，inthemeantimeithadtranspiredthatthemenemployedtocalktherafthadfoundthattheleakwasnotaleakatall，butonlyacrackbetweenthelogs——acrackthatbelongedthere，andwasnotdangerous，buthadbeenmagnifiedintoaleakbythedisorderedimaginationofthemate。Thereforewewentaboardagainwithagooddegreeofconfidence，andpresentlygottoseawithoutaccident。
Asweswamsmoothlyalongbetweentheenchantingshores，wefelltoswappingnotesaboutmannersandcustomsinGermanyandelsewhere。
AsIwrite，now，manymonthslater，Iperceivethateachofus，byobservingandnotingandinquiring，diligentlyanddaybyday，hadmanagedtolayinamostvariedandopulentstockofmisinformation。Butthisisnotsurprising；
itisverydifficulttogetaccuratedetailsinanycountry。
Forexample，Ihadtheideaonce，inHeidelberg，tofindoutallaboutthosefivestudent-corps。IstartedwiththeWhiteCapcorps。Ibegantoinquireofthisandthatandtheothercitizen，andhereiswhatIfoundout:
1。ItiscalledthePrussianCorps，becausenonebutPrussiansareadmittedtoit。
2。ItiscalledthePrussianCorpsfornoparticularreason。
IthassimplypleasedeachcorpstonameitselfaftersomeGermanstate。
3。ItisnotnamedthePrussianCorpsatall，butonlytheWhiteCapCorps。
4。AnystudentcanbelongtoitwhoisaGermanbybirth。
5。AnystudentcanbelongtoitwhoisEuropeanbybirth。
6。AnyEuropean-bornstudentcanbelongtoit，excepthebeaFrenchman。
7。Anystudentcanbelongtoit，nomatterwherehewasborn。
8。Nostudentcanbelongtoitwhoisnotofnobleblood。
9。Nostudentcanbelongtoitwhocannotshowthreefullgenerationsofnobledescent。
10。Nobilityisnotanecessaryqualification。
11。Nomoneylessstudentcanbelongtoit。
12。Moneyqualificationisnonsense——suchathinghasneverbeenthoughtof。
Igotsomeofthisinformationfromstudentsthemselves——
studentswhodidnotbelongtothecorps。
Ifinallywenttoheadquarters——totheWhiteCaps——whereI
wouldhavegoneinthefirstplaceifIhadbeenacquainted。
ButevenatheadquartersIfounddifficulties；IperceivedthattherewerethingsabouttheWhiteCapCorpswhichonememberknewandanotheronedidn't。Itwasnatural；
forveryfewmembersofanyorganizationknowALLthatcanbeknownaboutit。IdoubtthereisamanorawomaninHeidelbergwhowouldnotanswerpromptlyandconfidentlythreeoutofeveryfivequestionsabouttheWhiteCapCorpswhichastrangermightask；yetitisaverysafebetthattwoofthethreeanswerswouldbeincorrecteverytime。
ThereisoneGermancustomwhichisuniversal——thebowingcourteouslytostrangerswhensittingdownattableorrisingupfromit。Thisbowstartlesastrangeroutofhisself-possession，thefirsttimeitoccurs，andheislikelytofalloverachairorsomething，inhisembarrassment，butitpleaseshim，nevertheless。Onesoonlearnstoexpectthisbowandbeonthelookoutandreadytoreturnit；
buttolearntoleadoffandmaketheinitialbowone'sselfisadifficultmatterforadiffidentman。
Onethinks，"IfIrisetogo，andtendermybox，andtheseladiesandgentlementakeitintotheirheadstoignorethecustomoftheirnation，andnotreturnit，howshallIfeel，incaseIsurvivetofeelanything。"
Thereforeheisafraidtoventure。Hesitsoutthedinner，andmakesthestrangersrisefirstandoriginatethebowing。
Atabled'ho^tedinnerisatediousaffairforamanwhoseldomtouchesanythingafterthethreefirstcourses；
thereforeIusedtodosomeprettydrearywaitingbecauseofmyfears。Ittookmemonthstoassuremyselfthatthosefearsweregroundless，butIdidassuremyselfatlastbyexperimentingdiligentlythroughmyagent。
ImadeHarrisgetupandbowandleave；invariablyhisbowwasreturned，thenIgotupandbowedmyselfandretired。
Thusmyeducationproceededeasilyandcomfortablyforme，butnotforHarris。Threecoursesofatabled'ho^tedinnerwereenoughforme，butHarrispreferredthirteen。
EvenafterIhadacquiredfullconfidence，andnolongerneededtheagent'shelp，Isometimesencountereddifficulties。
OnceatBaden-BadenInearlylostatrainbecauseIcouldnotbesurethatthreeyoungladiesoppositemeattablewereGermans，sinceIhadnotheardthemspeak；theymightbeAmerican，theymightbeEnglish，itwasnotsafetoventureabow；butjustasIhadgotthatfarwithmythought，oneofthembeganaGermanremark，tomygreatreliefandgratitude；andbeforeshegotoutherthirdword，ourbowshadbeendeliveredandgraciouslyreturned，andwewereoff。
ThereisafriendlysomethingabouttheGermancharacterwhichisverywinning。WhenHarrisandIweremakingapedestriantourthroughtheBlackForest，westoppedatalittlecountryinnfordinneroneday；twoyoungladiesandayounggentlemanenteredandsatdownoppositeus。
Theywerepedestrians，too。Ourknapsackswerestrappeduponourbacks，buttheyhadasturdyyouthalongtocarrytheirsforthem。Allpartieswerehungry，sotherewasnotalking。Byandbytheusualbowswereexchanged，andweseparated。
AswesatatalatebreakfastinthehotelatAllerheiligen，nextmorning，theseyoungpeopleandtookplacesnearuswithoutobservingus；butpresentlytheysawusandatoncebowedandsmiled；notceremoniously，butwiththegratifiedlookofpeoplewhohavefoundacquaintanceswheretheywereexpectingstrangers。
Thentheyspokeoftheweatherandtheroads。Wealsospokeoftheweatherandtheroads。Next，theysaidtheyhadhadanenjoyablewalk，notwithstandingtheweather。
Wesaidthatthathadbeenourcase，too。ThentheysaidtheyhadwalkedthirtyEnglishmilesthedaybefore，andaskedhowmanywehadwalked。Icouldnotlie，soI
toldHarristodoit。HarristoldthemwehadmadethirtyEnglishmiles，too。Thatwastrue；wehad"made"them，thoughwehadhadalittleassistancehereandthere。
Afterbreakfasttheyfoundustryingtoblastsomeinformationoutofthedumbhotelclerkaboutroutes，andobservingthatwewerenotsucceedingprettywell，theywentandgottheirmapsandthings，andpointedoutandexplainedourcoursesoclearlythatevenaNewYorkdetectivecouldhavefollowedit。Andwhenwestartedtheyspokeoutaheartygood-byandwishedusapleasantjourney。Perhapstheyweremoregenerouswithusthantheymighthavebeenwithnativewayfarersbecausewewereaforlornlotandinastrangeland；
Idon'tknow；Ionlyknowitwaslovelytobetreatedso。
Verywell，ItookanAmericanyoungladytooneofthefineballsinBaden-Baden，onenight，andattheentrance-doorupstairswewerehaltedbyanofficial——somethingaboutMissJones'sdresswasnotaccordingtorule；Idon'trememberwhatitwas，now；somethingwaswanting——herbackhair，orashawl，orafan，orashovel，orsomething。
Theofficialwaseversopolite，andeverysosorry，buttherulewasstrict，andhecouldnotletusin。
Itwasveryembarrassing，formanyeyeswereonus。
Butnowarichlydressedgirlsteppedoutoftheballroom，inquiredintothetrouble，andsaidshecouldfixitinamoment。ShetookMissJonestotherobing-room，andsoonbroughtherbackinregulationtrim，andthenweenteredtheballroomwiththisbenefactressunchallenged。
Beingsafe，now，Ibegantopuzzlethroughmysincerebutungrammaticalthanks，whentherewasasuddenmutualrecognition——thebenefactressandIhadmetatAllerheiligen。
Twoweekshadnotalteredhergoodface，andplainlyherheartwasintherightplaceyet，buttherewassuchadifferencebetweentheseclothesandtheclothesI
hadseenherinbefore，whenshewaswalkingthirtymilesadayintheBlackForest，thatitwasquitenaturalthatIhadfailedtorecognizehersooner。IhadonMY
othersuit，too，butmyGermanwouldbetraymetoapersonwhohadhearditonce，anyway。Shebroughtherbrotherandsister，andtheymadeourwaysmoothforthatevening。
Well——monthsafterward，IwasdrivingthroughthestreetsofMunichinacabwithaGermanlady，oneday，whenshesaid:
"There，thatisPrinceLudwigandhiswife，walkingalongthere。"
Everybodywasbowingtothem——cabmen，littlechildren，andeverybodyelse——andtheywerereturningallthebowsandoverlookingnobody，whenayoungladymetthemandmadeadeepcourtesy。
"Thatisprobablyoneoftheladiesofthecourt，"
saidmyGermanfriend。
Isaid:
"Sheisanhonortoit，then。Iknowher。Idon'tknowhername，butIknowHER。IhaveknownheratAllerheiligenandBaden-Baden。SheoughttobeanEmpress，butshemaybeonlyaDuchess；itisthewaythingsgointhisway。"
IfoneasksaGermanacivilquestion，hewillbequitesuretogetacivilanswer。IfyoustopaGermaninthestreetandaskhimtodirectyoutoacertainplace，heshowsnosignoffeelingoffended。Iftheplacebedifficulttofind，tentoonethemanwilldrophisownmattersandgowithyouandshowyou。
InLondon，too，manyatime，strangershavewalkedseveralblockswithmetoshowmemyway。
Thereissomethingveryrealaboutthissortofpoliteness。
Quiteoften，inGermany，shopkeeperswhocouldnotfurnishmethearticleIwantedhavesentoneoftheiremployeeswithmetoshowmeaplacewhereitcouldbehad。
CHAPTERXIX
[TheDeadlyJestofDilsberg]
However，Iwanderfromtheraft。WemadetheportofNecharsteinachingoodseason，andwenttothehotelandorderedatroutdinner，thesametobereadyagainstourreturnfromatwo-hourpedestrianexcursiontothevillageandcastleofDilsberg，amiledistant，ontheothersideoftheriver。Idonotmeanthatweproposedtobetwohoursmakingtwomiles——no，wemeanttoemploymostofthetimeininspectingDilsberg。
ForDilsbergisaquaintplace。Itismostquaintlyandpicturesquelysituated，too。Imaginethebeautifulriverbeforeyou；thenafewrodsofbrilliantgreenswardonitsoppositeshore；thenasuddenhill——nopreparatorygentlyrisingslopes，butasortofinstantaneoushill——
ahilltwohundredandfiftyorthreehundredfeethigh，asroundasabowl，withthesametaperupwardthataninvertedbowlhas，andwithaboutthesamerelationofheighttodiameterthatdistinguishesabowlofgoodhonestdepth——ahillwhichisthicklyclothedwithgreenbushes——acomely，shapelyhill，risingabruptlyoutofthedeadlevelofthesurroundinggreenplains，visiblefromagreatdistancedownthebendsoftheriver，andwithjustexactlyroomonthetopofitsheadforitssteepledandturretedandroof-clusteredcapofarchitecture，whichsameistightlyjammedandcompactedwithintheperfectlyroundhoopoftheancientvillagewall。
Thereisnohouseoutsidethewallonthewholehill，oranyvestigeofaformerhouse；allthehousesareinsidethewall，butthereisn'troomforanotherone。
Itisreallyafinishedtown，andhasbeenfinishedaverylongtime。Thereisnospacebetweenthewallandthefirstcircleofbuildings；no，thevillagewallisitselftherearwallofthefirstcircleofbuildings，andtheroofsjutalittleoverthewallandthusfurnishitwitheaves。Thegenerallevelofthemassedroofsisgracefullybrokenandrelievedbythedominatingtowersoftheruinedcastleandthetallspiresofacoupleofchurches；so，fromadistanceDilsberghasrathermorethelookofaking'scrownthanacap。
Thatloftygreeneminenceanditsquaintcoronetformquiteastrikingpicture，youmaybesure，intheflushoftheeveningsun。
Wecrossedoverinaboatandbegantheascentbyanarrow，steeppathwhichplungedusatonceintotheleafydeepsofthebushes。Buttheywerenotcooldeepsbyanymeans，forthesun'srayswerewelteringhotandtherewaslittleornobreezetotemperthem。Aswepantedupthesharpascent，wemetbrown，bareheadedandbarefootedboysandgirls，occasionally，andsometimesmen；
theycameuponuswithoutwarning，theygaveusgoodday，flashedoutofsightinthebushes，andweregoneassuddenlyandmysteriouslyastheyhadcome。Theywereboundfortheothersideoftherivertowork。Thispathhadbeentraveledbymanygenerationsofthesepeople。
Theyhavealwaysgonedowntothevalleytoearntheirbread，buttheyhavealwaysclimbedtheirhillagaintoeatit，andtosleepintheirsnugtown。
ItissaidthetheDilsbergersdonotemigratemuch；
theyfindthatlivingupthereabovetheworld，intheirpeacefulnest，ispleasanterthanlivingdowninthetroublousworld。Thesevenhundredinhabitantsareallblood-kintoeachother，too；theyhavealwaysbeenblood-kintoeachotherforfifteenhundredyears；theyaresimplyonelargefamily，andtheylikethehomefolksbetterthantheylikestrangers，hencetheypersistentlystayathome。
IthasbeensaidthatforagesDilsberghasbeenmerelyathrivinganddiligentidiot-factory。Isawnoidiotsthere，butthecaptainsaid，"Becauseoflateyearsthegovernmenthastakentoluggingthemofftoasylumsandotherwheres；
andgovernmentwantstocripplethefactory，too，andistryingtogettheseDilsbergerstomarryoutofthefamily，buttheydon'tliketo。"
Thecaptainprobablyimaginedallthis，asmodernsciencedeniesthattheintermarryingofrelativesdeterioratesthestock。
Arrivedwithinthewall，wefoundtheusualvillagesightsandlife。Wemovedalonganarrow，crookedlanewhichhadbeenpavedintheMiddleAges。Astrapping，ruddygirlwasbeatingflaxorsomesuchstuffinalittlebitofagood-boxofabarn，andsheswungherflailwithawill——ifitwasaflail；Iwasnotfarmerenoughtoknowwhatshewasat；afrowsy，bareleggedgirlwasherdinghalfadozengeesewithastick——drivingthemalongthelaneandkeepingthemoutofthedwellings；
acooperwasatworkinashopwhichIknowhedidnotmakesolargeathingasahogsheadin，fortherewasnotroom。
Inthefrontroomsofdwellingsgirlsandwomenwerecookingorspinning，andducksandchickenswerewaddlinginandout，overthethreshold，pickingupchancecrumbsandholdingpleasantconverse；averyoldandwrinkledmansatasleepbeforehisdoor，withhischinuponhisbreastandhisextinguishedpipeinhislap；soiledchildrenwereplayinginthedirteverywherealongthelane，unmindfulofthesun。
Exceptthesleepingoldman，everybodywasatwork，buttheplacewasverystillandpeaceful，nevertheless；
sostillthatthedistantcackleofthesuccessfulhensmoteupontheearbutlittledulledbyinterveningsounds。
Thatcommonestofvillagesightswaslackinghere——thepublicpump，withitsgreatstonetankortroughoflimpidwater，anditsgroupofgossipingpitcher-bearers；
forthereisnowellorfountainorspringonthistallhill；
cisternsofrain-waterareused。
Ouralpenstocksandmuslintailscompelledattention，andaswemovedthroughthevillagewegatheredaconsiderableprocessionoflittleboysandgirls，andsowentinsomestatetothecastle。Itprovedtobeanextensivepileofcrumblingwalls，arches，andtowers，massive，properlygroupedforpicturesqueeffect，weedy，grass-grown，andsatisfactory。
Thechildrenactedasguides；theywalkedusalongthetopofthehighestwalls，thentookusupintoahightowerandshowedusawideandbeautifullandscape，madeupofwavydistancesofwoodyhills，andanearerprospectofundulatingexpansesofgreenlowlands，ontheonehand，andcastle-gracedcragsandridgesontheother，withtheshiningcurvesoftheNeckarflowingbetween。
Buttheprincipalshow，thechiefprideofthechildren，wastheancientandemptywellinthegrass-growncourtofthecastle。Itsmassivestonecurbstandsupthreeorfourfeetabove-ground，andiswholeanduninjured。
ThechildrensaidthatintheMiddleAgesthiswellwasfourhundredfeetdeep，andfurnishedallthevillagewithanabundantsupplyofwater，inwarandpeace。
TheysaidthatintheolddayitsbottomwasbelowtheleveloftheNeckar，hencethewater-supplywasinexhaustible。
Butthereweresomewhobelievedithadneverbeenawellatall，andwasneverdeeperthanitisnow——eightyfeet；
thatatthatdepthasubterraneanpassagebranchedfromitanddescendedgraduallytoaremoteplaceinthevalley，whereitopenedintosomebody'scellarorotherhiddenrecess，andthatthesecretofthislocalityisnowlost。
ThosewhoholdthisbeliefsaythathereinliestheexplanationthatDilsberg，besiegedbyTillyandmanyasoldierbeforehim，wasnevertaken:afterthelongestandclosestsiegesthebesiegerswereastonishedtoperceivethatthebesiegedwereasfatandheartyasever，andwerewellfurnishedwithmunitionsofwar——thereforeitmustbethattheDilsbergershadbeenbringingthesethingsinthroughthesubterraneanpassageallthetime。
Thechildrensaidthattherewasintruthasubterraneanoutletdownthere，andtheywouldproveit。Sotheysetagreattrussofstrawonfireandthrewitdownthewell，whileweleanedonthecurbandwatchedtheglowingmassdescend。Itstruckbottomandgraduallyburnedout。
Nosmokecameup。Thechildrenclappedtheirhandsandsaid:
"Yousee!Nothingmakessomuchsmokeasburningstraw——nowwheredidthesmokegoto，ifthereisnosubterraneanoutlet?"
Soitseemedquiteevidentthatthesubterraneanoutletindeedexisted。Butthefinestthingwithintheruin'slimitswasanoblelinden，whichthechildrensaidwasfourhundredyearsold，andnodoubtitwas。Ithadamightytrunkandamightyspreadoflimbandfoliage。
Thelimbsnearthegroundwerenearlythethicknessofabarrel。
Thattreehadwitnessedtheassaultsofmeninmail——
howremotesuchatimeseems，andhowungraspableisthefactthatrealmeneverdidfightinrealarmor!——andithadseenthetimewhenthesebrokenarchesandcrumblingbattlementswereatrimandstrongandstatelyfortress，flutteringitsgaybannersinthesun，andpeopledwithvigoroushumanity——howimpossiblylongagothatseems!——andhereitstandsyet，andpossiblymaystillbestandinghere，sunningitselfanddreamingitshistoricaldreams，whentodayshallhavebeenjoinedtothedayscalled"ancient。"
Well，wesatdownunderthetreetosmoke，andthecaptaindeliveredhimselfofhislegend:
THELEGENDOFDILSBERGCASTLE
Itwastothiseffect。Intheoldtimestherewasonceagreatcompanyassembledatthecastle，andfestivityranhigh。Ofcoursetherewasahauntedchamberinthecastle，andonedaythetalkfelluponthat。
Itwassaidthatwhoeversleptinitwouldnotwakeagainforfiftyyears。NowwhenayoungknightnamedConradvonGeisbergheardthis，hesaidthatifthecastlewerehishewoulddestroythatchamber，sothatnofoolishpersonmighthavethechancetobringsodreadfulamisfortuneuponhimselfandafflictsuchaslovedhimwiththememoryofit。Straightway，thecompanyprivatelylaidtheirheadstogethertocontrivesomewaytogetthissuperstitiousyoungmantosleepinthatchamber。
Andtheysucceeded——inthisway。Theypersuadedhisbetrothed，alovelymischievousyoungcreature，nieceofthelordofthecastle，tohelpthemintheirplot。
Shepresentlytookhimasideandhadspeechwithhim。
Sheusedallherpersuasions，butcouldnotshakehim；
hesaidhisbeliefwasfirm，thatifheshouldsleeptherehewouldwakenomoreforfiftyyears，anditmadehimshuddertothinkofit。Catharinabegantoweep。
Thiswasabetterargument；Conradcouldnotoutagainstit。
Heyieldedandsaidsheshouldhaveherwishifshewouldonlysmileandbehappyagain。Sheflungherarmsabouthisneck，andthekissesshegavehimshowedthatherthankfulnessandherpleasurewereveryreal。Thensheflewtotellthecompanyhersuccess，andtheapplauseshereceivedmadehergladandproudshehadundertakenhermission，sinceallaloneshehadaccomplishedwhatthemultitudehadfailedin。
Atmidnight，thatnight，aftertheusualfeasting，Conradwastakentothehauntedchamberandleftthere。
Hefellasleep，byandby。
Whenheawokeagainandlookedabouthim，hisheartstoodstillwithhorror!Thewholeaspectofthechamberwaschanged。Thewallsweremoldyandhungwithancientcobwebs；thecurtainsandbeddingswererotten；
thefurniturewasricketyandreadytofalltopieces。
Hesprangoutofbed，buthisquakingkneessunkunderhimandhefelltothefloor。
"Thisistheweaknessofage，"hesaid。
Heroseandsoughthisclothing。Itwasclothingnolonger。
Thecolorsweregone，thegarmentsgavewayinmanyplaceswhilehewasputtingthemon。Hefled，shuddering，intothecorridor，andalongittothegreathall。Herehewasmetbyamiddle-agedstrangerofakindcountenance，whostoppedandgazedathimwithsurprise。Conradsaid:
"Goodsir，willyousendhitherthelordUlrich?"
Thestrangerlookedpuzzledamoment，thensaid:
"ThelordUlrich?"
"Yes——ifyouwillbesogood。"
Thestrangercalled——"Wilhelm!"Ayoungserving-mancame，andthestrangersaidtohim:
"IstherealordUlrichamongtheguests?"
"Iknownoneofthename，sopleaseyourhonor。"
Conradsaid，hesitatingly:
"Ididnotmeanaguest，butthelordofthecastle，sir。"
Thestrangerandtheservantexchangedwonderingglances。
Thentheformersaid:
"Iamthelordofthecastle。"
"Sincewhen，sir?"
"Sincethedeathofmyfather，thegoodlordUlrichmorethanfortyyearsago。"
Conradsankuponabenchandcoveredhisfacewithhishandswhileherockedhisbodytoandfroandmoaned。
Thestrangersaidinalowvoicetotheservant:
"Ifearmethispooroldcreatureismad。Callsomeone。"
Inamomentseveralpeoplecame，andgroupedthemselvesabout，talkinginwhispers。Conradlookedupandscannedthefacesabouthimwistfully。
Thenheshookhisheadandsaid，inagrievedvoice:
"No，thereisnoneamongyethatIknow。Iamoldandaloneintheworld。Theyaredeadandgonethesemanyyearsthatcaredforme。Butsure，someoftheseagedonesIseeaboutmecantellmesomelittlewordortwoconcerningthem。"
Severalbentandtotteringmenandwomencamenearerandansweredhisquestionsabouteachformerfriendashementionedthenames。Thisonetheysaidhadbeendeadtenyears，thatonetwenty，anotherthirty。
Eachsucceedingblowstruckheavierandheavier。
Atlastthesufferersaid:
"Thereisonemore，butIhavenotthecourageto——O
mylostCatharina!"
Oneoftheolddamessaid:
"Ah，Iknewherwell，poorsoul。Amisfortuneovertookherlover，andshediedofsorrownearlyfiftyyearsago。
Sheliethunderthelindentreewithoutthecourt。"
Conradbowedhisheadandsaid:
"Ah，whydidIeverwake!Andsoshediedofgriefforme，poorchild。Soyoung，sosweet，sogood!Sheneverwittinglydidahurtfulthinginallthelittlesummerofherlife。
Herlovingdebtshallberepaid——forIwilldieofgriefforher。"
Hisheaddroopeduponhisbreast。Inthemomenttherewasawildburstofjoyouslaughter，apairofroundyoungarmswereflungaboutConrad'sneckandasweetvoicecried:
"There，Conradmine，thykindwordskillme——thefarceshallgonofurther!Lookup，andlaughwithus——'twasallajest!"
Andhedidlookup，andgazed，inadazedwonderment——
forthedisguiseswerestrippedaway，andtheagedmenandwomenwerebrightandyoungandgayagain。
Catharina'shappytongueranon:
"'Twasamarvelousjest，andbravelycarriedout。
Theygaveyouaheavysleeping-draughtbeforeyouwenttobed，andinthenighttheyboreyoutoaruinedchamberwhereallhadfallentodecay，andplacedtheseragsofclothingbyyou。Andwhenyoursleepwasspentandyoucameforth，twostrangers，wellinstructedintheirparts，wereheretomeetyou；andallwe，yourfriends，inourdisguises，werecloseathand，toseeandhear，youmaybesure。Ah，'twasagallantjest!Come，now，andmaketheereadyforthepleasuresoftheday。
Howrealwasthymiseryforthemoment，thoupoorlad!
Lookupandhavethylaugh，now!"
Helookedup，searchedthemerryfacesabouthiminadreamyway，thensighedandsaid:
"Iamaweary，goodstrangers，Iprayyouleadmetohergrave。"
Allthesmilevanishedaway，everycheekblanched，Catharinasunktothegroundinaswoon。
Alldaythepeoplewentaboutthecastlewithtroubledfaces，andcommunedtogetherinundertones。Apainfulhushpervadedtheplacewhichhadlatelybeensofullofcheerylife。EachinhisturntriedtoarouseConradoutofhishallucinationandbringhimtohimself；
butalltheansweranygotwasameek，bewilderedstare，andthenthewords:
"Goodstranger，Ihavenofriends，allareatrestthesemanyyears；yespeakmefair，yemeanmewell，butIknowyenot；Iamaloneandforlornintheworld——pritheeleadmetohergrave。"
DuringtwoyearsConradspenthisdays，fromtheearlymorningtillthenight，underthelindentree，mourningovertheimaginarygraveofhisCatharina。
Catharinawastheonlycompanyoftheharmlessmadman。
Hewasveryfriendlytowardherbecause，ashesaid，insomewayssheremindedhimofhisCatharinawhomhehadlost"fiftyyearsago。"Heoftensaid:
"Shewassogay，sohappy-hearted——butyouneversmile；
andalwayswhenyouthinkIamnotlooking，youcry。"
WhenConraddied，theyburiedhimunderthelinden，accordingtohisdirections，sothathemightrest"nearhispoorCatharina。"ThenCatharinasatunderthelindenalone，everydayandalldaylong，agreatmanyyears，speakingtonoone，andneversmiling；
andatlastherlongrepentancewasrewardedwithdeath，andshewasburiedbyConrad'sside。
Harrispleasedthecaptainbysayingitwasgoodlegend；
andpleasedhimfurtherbyadding:
"NowthatIhaveseenthismightytree，vigorouswithitsfourhundredyears，IfeeladesiretobelievethelegendforITSsake；soIwillhumorthedesire，andconsiderthatthetreereallywatchesoverthosepoorheartsandfeelsasortofhumantendernessforthem。"
WereturnedtoNecharsteinach，plungedourhotheadsintothetroughatthetownpump，andthenwenttothehotelandateourtroutdinnerinleisurelycomfort，inthegarden，withthebeautifulNeckarflowingatourfeet，thequaintDilsbergloomingbeyond，andthegracefultowersandbattlementsofacoupleofmedievalcastlescalledthe"Swallow'sNest"[1]and"TheBrothers。"
assistingtheruggedsceneryofabendoftheriverdowntoourright。Wegottoseainseasontomaketheeight-mileruntoHeidelbergbeforethenightshutdown。
Wesailedbythehotelinthemellowglowofsunset，andcameslashingdownwiththemadcurrentintothenarrowpassagebetweenthedikes。IbelievedIcouldshootthebridgemyself，andIwenttotheforwardtripletoflogsandrelievedthepilotofhispoleandhisresponsibility。
1。TheseekerafterinformationisreferredtoAppendixEforourcaptain'slegendofthe"Swallow'sNest"
and"TheBrothers。"
Wewenttearingalonginamostexhilaratingway，andI
performedthedelicatedutiesofmyofficeverywellindeedforafirstattempt；butperceiving，presently，thatI
reallywasgoingtoshootthebridgeitselfinsteadofthearchwayunderit，Ijudiciouslysteppedashore。
ThenextmomentIhadmylong-coveteddesire:Isawaraftwrecked。Ithitthepierinthecenterandwentalltosmashandscatterationlikeaboxofmatchesstruckbylightning。
Iwastheonlyoneofourpartywhosawthisgrandsight；
theotherswereattitudinizing，forthebenefitofthelongrankofyoungladieswhowerepromenadingonthebank，andsotheylostit。ButIhelpedtofishthemoutoftheriver，downbelowthebridge，andthendescribedittothemaswellasIcould。
Theywerenotinterested，though。Theysaidtheywerewetandfeltridiculousanddidnotcareanythingfordescriptionsofscenery。Theyoungladies，andotherpeople，crowdedaroundandshowedagreatdealofsympathy，butthatdidnothelpmatters；formyfriendssaidtheydidnotwantsympathy，theywantedabackalleyandsolitude。
CHAPTERXX
[MyPrecious，PricelessTear-Jug]
Nextmorningbroughtgoodnews——ourtrunkshadarrivedfromHamburgatlast。Letthisbeawarningtothereader。
TheGermansareveryconscientious，andthistraitmakesthemveryparticular。ThereforeifyoutellaGermanyouwantathingdoneimmediately，hetakesyouatyourword；
hethinksyoumeanwhatyousay；sohedoesthatthingimmediately——accordingtohisideaofimmediately——
whichisaboutaweek；thatis，itisaweekifitreferstothebuildingofagarment，oritisanhourandahalfifitreferstothecookingofatrout。Verywell；ifyoutellaGermantosendyourtrunktoyouby"slowfreight，"
hetakesyouatyourword；hesendsitby"slowfreight，"
andyoucannotimaginehowlongyouwillgoonenlargingyouradmirationoftheexpressivenessofthatphraseintheGermantongue，beforeyougetthattrunk。
Thehaironmytrunkwassoftandthickandyouthful，whenIgotitreadyforshipmentinHamburg；itwasbaldheadedwhenitreachedHeidelberg。However，itwasstillsound，thatwasacomfort，itwasnotbatteredintheleast；
thebaggagemenseemedtobeconscientiouslycareful，inGermany，ofthebaggageentrustedtotheirhands。
Therewasnothingnowinthewayofourdeparture，thereforewesetaboutourpreparations。
NaturallymychiefsolicitudewasaboutmycollectionofCeramics。OfcourseIcouldnottakeitwithme，thatwouldbeinconvenient，anddangerousbesides。
Itookadvice，butthebestbrick-a-brackersweredividedastothewisestcoursetopursue；somesaidpackthecollectionandwarehouseit；otherssaidtrytogetitintotheGrandDucalMuseumatMannheimforsafekeeping。
SoIdividedthecollection，andfollowedtheadviceofbothparties。Isetaside，fortheMuseum，thosearticleswhichwerethemostfrailandprecious。
AmongthesewasmyEtruscantear-jug。Ihavemadealittlesketchofithere；[Figure6]thatthingcreepingupthesideisnotabug，itisahole。Iboughtthistear-jugofadealerinantiquitiesforfourhundredandfiftydollars。Itisveryrare。ThemansaidtheEtruscansusedtokeeptearsorsomethinginthesethings，andthatitwasveryhardtogetholdofabrokenone，now。
IalsosetasidemyHenriII。plate。Seesketchfrommypencil；[Figure7]itisinthemaincorrect，thoughIthinkIhaveforeshortenedoneendofitalittletoomuch，perhaps。Thisisveryfineandrare；theshapeisexceedinglybeautifulandunusual。Ithaswonderfuldecorationsonit，butIamnotabletoreproducethem。
Itcostmorethanthetear-jug，asthedealersaidtherewasnotanotherplatejustlikeitintheworld。
HesaidtherewasmuchfalseHenriIIwarearound，butthatthegenuinenessofthispiecewasunquestionable。